Keen to depart Fulham for a new challenge, you might have thought Dimitar Berbatov would have snapped the hand off an approach from AS Monaco and signed immediately.

Yet at his unveiling in the principality today, he reveals that he paused momentarily to consult his former Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra before making the deadline day switch.

Evra played for Monaco before joining United, starring as they reached the 2004 Champions League Final, only to be defeated by Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.

Berbatov told L'Equipe: "I was looking for something new. When Monaco contacted me , I spoke to Patrice Evra, one of my very good friends, and he said why not.

"In fact, it was easy for me to choose. This is a great team. I knew the coach who worked in England. This is a new adventure.

"I spoke with Evra, he really told me the good of the team. Everyone does not come to the stadium but the team is second and yet it will achieve its objective to qualify for the Champions League."

Quizzed if he could recapture the form of his best United days, Berbatov replied:

"The same? I do not have the same hair but I will try to show the best of myself. I'm obviously a little older but football is played with the head. We shall see in the next matches in the coming weeks, if I'm the same."

He also moved to play down comparisons to Falcao, insisting he was not there as a replacement for the injured £53 million man.

"I'm not here to take the place of anyone. Of course it is a big challenge to replace Falcao but I'm first here to melt into the collective."

Evra, a free agent in the summer, has been linked with a return to his former club. That he still speaks highly of them may only add to their determination to persuade him to rejoin.

Dan Coombs

Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
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